2026 Pac-12 Schedule Announced: Winners, Losers, and Flex Week

The rebuilt Pac-12 has unveiled its 2026 football schedule, introducing an unprecedented “flex week” that will close the regular season and reshuffle traditional conference dynamics. Eight programs will face every league opponent once between Weeks 5 and 12, after which the conference will stage a rematch selected by CFP positioning, prior travel, and logistical considerations. Crucially, the flex contest will not count in the standings and will be treated as a non-conference game, with Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and Washington State guaranteed to host.

The championship game will abandon neutral-site tradition, instead awarding home-field advantage to the highest seed.

San Diego State emerged as the clearest winner, drawing Fresno State and Washington State in Snapdragon Stadium while also pocketing a Week 10 bye. Washington State mirrors that November breather and will entertain both Fresno State and Boise State in Pullman; its only daunting road trip appears to be a visit to the Aztecs.

Texas State’s path is back-loaded with Boise State, Fresno State, and Washington State after Halloween, yet the Bobcats received a scheduling gift: following their Week 6 bye, they alternate two-home, two-away, two-home blocks—the only Pac-12 roster constructed in such travel-friendly pairs.

Boise State’s itinerary is less forgiving. Spencer Danielson’s squad must visit Fresno State and Washington State in October, enjoy a bye, then close with San Diego State at home and a flex rematch—currently projected at Utah State but subject to revision.

Fresno State faces a potential season-defining October gauntlet, playing at Washington State, hosting Boise State, and traveling to San Diego State in successive weeks. Oregon State confronts a similar crucible, drawing SDSU, Wazzu, Fresno State, and Boise State across five weeks that include a bye.

Colorado State’s first-year head coach Jim Mora will lament an early conference bye in Week 2, after which the Rams must navigate seven straight contests—featuring home dates with San Diego State and Boise State and consecutive trips to Washington State and Fresno State.

Utah State, breaking in a new quarterback under Bronco Mendenhall, opens with Boise State on the road and Washington State at home, later sandwiching Fresno State and San Diego State in Weeks 8 and 9.

With the flex week adding a strategic wildcard and home-field stakes raised for the title game, the 2026 Pac-12 race promises both novelty and heightened late-season drama.